NIA Moves to Revoke Zakir Naik’s Passport, Financial Probe On

Naik’s close aide has confessed that he used to sign cheques for Naik’s companies.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) may move to revoke the passport of Islamic preacher Zakir Naik. He is wanted on terror charges and money laundering since 2016 and fled the country immediately after charges were imposed.

Zakir has been accused of:

Encouraging and aiding his followers through his public speeches, lectures and talks, to promote on grounds of religion, disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred and ill-will between different religious communities and groups.

The NIA has also approached the Interpol to issue a Red Corner Notice against Naik. This essentially means that Naik will become an ‘offender’ wanted at the international level.

Naik had sought to apply for Malaysian citizenship early in 2017, but no decision had been taken for the same. It is believed he is still residing in Malaysia on a renewed passport that will move to be revoked. With this notice, he may be arrested, in some countries with a view to subsequently extradite the accused to the country where he is wanted.

In 2016, a criminal case was registered against Zakir Naik under Sections 153A of Indian Penal Code and Sections 10, 13 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. Naik’s Islamic Research Foundation has already been declared as an unlawful organisation.

According to The Indian Express, NIA is now investigating Zakir’s financial transactions regarding 10 companies and 19 properties in Mumbai and Pune, in which Zakir has invested more than Rs 100 crore. Zakir’s aides have confirmed the financial details to NIA during interrogations.

NIA has also found that Abu Anas, who is allegedly a part of a conspiracy involving ISIS-affiliated group, Junood-ul-Khalifa-fil-Hind, was receiving scholarship from Naik’s foundation from 2013 to 2015. The chargesheet further alleges that members of the group were conducting meetings to recruit Muslim youth to work for ISIS and partake in terrorist strikes across India.

Abu Anas and others were getting instructions from the media chief of ISIS.

Aamir Abdul Mannan Gazdar, Naik’s close aide, has confessed to NIA that he used to sign cheques for companies owned by Naik, which were then counter-signed by Naik’s sister.

NIA Director General Sharad Kumar told The Indian Express that Naik was not cooperating with them despite repeated notices sent to him to join investigations.